Memory Lane: Internet Explorer, 1 to 9

[deepsand]

TechRepublic: A visual history of Internet Explorer from 1 to 9 (http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-12843_11-63758-1.html?tag=content;leftCol).

Includes 52 pictures of IE, versions 1 through 9.

Which ones do you remember?

Note: Non-members can read discussion threads.

[keyon]

Yeah...I love looking at screenshots of old browsers. The slide show on TechRepublic is a bit clunky, though.
I thought this page did a better job:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/internet-explorer-turns-15-screenshots-history-highlights

[deepsand]

That's a nice display as well, though less inclusive.

Of particular note is that IE6 is there rendered only in XP style, even though the Classic style is available.

[holyhttp]

As a web developer I can only go as far back as IE5 although to this day IE6 still remains a pain in the rear. I haven't downloaded IE9 yet but I will come to that as soon as I am able to have it with other versions 6, 7 and 8 in the same system.
The slideshow by techrepublic.com is really clunky.

[deepsand]

As a web developer I can only go as far back as IE5 although to this day IE6 still remains a pain in the rear.
I what way is IE6 a PITE?


I haven't downloaded IE9 yet but I will come to that ...
You do that IE9 requires Win7, do you not?


... as soon as I am able to have it with other versions 6, 7 and 8 in the same system.
How accomplished?


The slideshow by techrepublic.com is really clunky.
That owes to its being incorporated into a discussion forum, rather than being a stand-alone item.

[Clint1]

How do you know which version is which image?? None of the images are labeled when you hover the thumbs, or when you click them.
http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-12843_11-63758-45.html

[deepsand]

If you click on an image, you will see descriptive text below it.

[Clint1]

I see that, but like I said it doesn't say which browser version is depicted in the screenshots. In my example above, it only says: "With the developer toolbar, you can clear the browser cache, disable images for the current page, and delete cookies (including session cookies) from the current domain by hitting F12." But which IE is that?

Take another one at random:
http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-12843_11-63758-47.html
Below that is "A demo". But a demo from what?

[nickoran]

it runs through them in succession, so start from the first image is ie1.. image 7 introduces ie2 etc etc

[Clint1]

it runs through them in succession, so start from the first image is ie1.. image 7 introduces ie2 etc etc
Ok thanks. They really should have labeled each image with the browser version from which it was taken. :confused:

Does anyone know if there are some kind of skins available for IE7, 8, or 9?

[jxw]

Deepsand,

Many thanks for an interesting thread. Reminded me that I still have my father's old Atari computer from the 1980s. My son used to enjoy playing around with it. We've come a long way. I guess IE has, too, but from comments on this forum and elsewhere over the last few years, that might be debatable.

[Clint1]

Deepsand,

Many thanks for an interesting thread. Reminded me that I still have my father's old Atari computer from the 1980s. My son used to enjoy playing around with it. We've come a long way. I guess IE has, too, but from comments on this forum and elsewhere over the last few years, that might be debatable.
I still have my Commodore 64 & 128. ;)

[keyon]

How do you know which version is which image?? None of the images are labeled when you hover the thumbs, or when you click them.[/url]
That's why I suggested this page (see my earlier post) -- which is easier to follow, I think.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/internet-explorer-turns-15-screenshots-history-highlights

[deepsand]

Ok thanks. They really should have labeled each image with the browser version from which it was taken.
May be some limitation in the forum platform.


Does anyone know if there are some kind of skins available for IE7, 8, or 9?
Looking for such has been on my list of things to do for a while now. I'd love to find an IE6 style skin.

[deepsand]

Ugh.

Makes me all the more appreciative of Chrome.
Chrome = Fisher-Price = :roll:

[deepsand]

... I still have my father's old Atari computer from the 1980s.


I still have my Commodore 64 & 128.
My relics include:

TRS-80 Mod I Level I
TRS-80 Mod I Level II
TRS-80 Mod 4-P
TRS-80 Pocket Computer
Tandy 1000-A
numerous peripherals for above
numerous OSes for 4-P & 1000-A

[deepsand]

I'm...not sure what that means. But I've been using it much more recently. It's slowly taking over for Firefox. Quicker, way better UI design.
Chrome's UI is reminiscent of a Fisher-Price toy.


Of course I've been avoiding IE like the plague for years now ...
For no good reason.

Now, since this thread is about IE, should you wish to compare browsers, you'll find several other extant threads here for such.

[Clint1]

Looking for such has been on my list of things to do for a while now. I'd love to find an IE6 style skin.
That's exactly why I asked and one of the main reasons why I won't touch IE7+. Speaking of Fisher-Price, IE7+ looks a bit like that as well. Also those frickin' tabs that intrude into the webpage's real estate. I just don't get it. I don't want tabs making the webpage's viewable area smaller! After many years, I'm also used to going to the bottom (taskbar) to open other webpages, not the top!

Hmmm, what have we here? http://skins.funutilities.com/ Hovering over each shows the general type of toolbar layout I use in IE6. It appears they may not have skins to make one version look like another, but I'm still checking that out. Search for internet explorer skins and there's more. I'm going to try to narrow the parameters to see if some site has them for IE7+ to look like the Classic IE6 version.

[Clint1]

.........It's slowly taking over for Firefox.
Last time I checked about 7% to 26% for FF. I just checked and now it's about 10% to 31% for FF. Actually more accurately put may be they are both combined, taking over IE.

If the people at M$ would allow plugins/extensions/add-ons like FF, (and SKINS), that would not be the case. Instead they keep trying to re-event the frickin' wheel, and it hasn't "been round" since IE6 and they still think the wheel works better when octagonal or hexagonal. :confused:

[Clint1]

I'm...not sure what that means. But I've been using it much more recently. It's slowly taking over for Firefox. Quicker, way better UI design.
Anything is quicker than FF. That's why I can't use it as my main browser. Every IE version I've ever used is way faster than any FF version. In fact, to me each FF version is getting slower.

[Clint1]

Re skins, let's see what we can find searching for this:
"internet explorer skins" OR "skins for internet explorer" OR "skins for IE" OR "IE skins"

[Clint1]

I found this in G, but as usual the damn cached link doesn't work!

Internet Explorer >>RSS Panel zooms
2 posts - 1 author - Last post: Sep 6, 2008
and maybe IE skins. -Joe ---------------- ..... There was a registry fix for Beta2 that made IE7 look like IE6. There was also an "unfix" that reversed the ...
www.databaseforum.info/6/23/571cb9b09c3ec0de.html - Cached

[nickoran]

I downloaded IE9 beta last night, disabled all plugins and when I booted up this morning it still took ages to load! GRRRRR! I do like its integration into windows 7 tho, it really has become more part of the desktop. even when you drag and drop from word to ie9 now it cuts and pastes rather than copy and pastes. (this I dont actually like but it does make it feel more part of the same set of programs to me)

[keyon]

I still spend plenty of time in IE --- not because I like the browser necessarily, but because 65 percent of my website visitors still use it. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I like to see what my customers see.

[deepsand]

That's exactly why I asked and one of the main reasons why I won't touch IE7+. Speaking of Fisher-Price, IE7+ looks a bit like that as well.
Which is why I've stuck with IE6.

That I've not yet gotten around to looking for skins owes to the fact that IE6 serves me so well, there's no press for me to upgrade.

[deepsand]

'Cept it sucks.
An unsubstantiated opinion.


And in the future if you didn't want to compare browsers, don't start comparing browsers.
The next time that you decide to be so damned arrogant, at least get your facts straight. It was you who made first mention of a browser other than IE! :roll:

Just earned yourself some red rep.

[weegillis]

Some changes were made in this thread. The member posts that were deleted (topic hijack) are still readable in quoted form.

Much as it pains this moderator to have to take action in an otherwise interesting topic, it cried out to be done. In time, this post, too, may be removed.

[Clint1]

Which is why I've stuck with IE6.

That I've not yet gotten around to looking for skins owes to the fact that IE6 serves me so well, there's no press for me to upgrade.
You don't get that annoying BS "Internet explorer cannot open the internet site" [.....] "operation aborted". ? That is starting to happen more and more. It would seem websites are in "some kind of conspiracy with M$" to extort users into using IE7+. That's ridiculous since anyone that knows how to make a webpage can make it work just fine in any browser. :confused: I actually believe they are doing it on purpose. In fact, it usually happens on G's Cached links! Obviously Coercing users into using Chrome!

I'm also seeing more and more blank webpages in IE6. Looks like because of this "conspiracy" we're going to be forced to use IE7+ or FF, I'll probably quit the net before that ever happens. Unless IE6 skins can be found for IE7+ use. Have you found any yet?

I've done a lot of searching on that error message, and most of the time it's coding errors on the webpage! Or I should say, coding done on purpose. In my case, I was able to get rid of a few of them by disabling KIS 2011's overzealous option to "Block dangerous scripts in IE". Now when a real "dangerous script" is on a webpage it won't block it.

Well don't this just really suck: This is one of the pages I saved that gave me that error message (http://cgi.ebay.com/Haier-America-BDP100-Blu-Ray-Disc-Player_W0QQitemZ190421641094QQcategoryZ15077QQcmdZ ViewItem) and disabling that option in KIS got rid of it, now it's back! I did at least find a way to keep the webpage from going blank to that "The page cannot be displayed" generic crap, but what happens now is the pages like that just stop loading when the error shows, so the pages are not fully displayed.

[deepsand]

You don't get that annoying BS "Internet explorer cannot open the internet site" [.....] "operation aborted". ?
I've yet to run into that problem with IE6.


Well don't this just really suck: This is one of the pages I saved that gave me that error message and disabling that option in KIS got rid of it, now it's back! I did at least find a way to keep the webpage from going blank to that "The page cannot be displayed" generic crap, but what happens now is the pages like that just stop loading when the error shows, so the pages are not fully displayed.
The cited page loads fine for me. :confused:

[Clint1]

Obviously I'm going to have to find another page that consistently does it. I also disabled SpyBot and Spyware Blaster, and I did not still the same error message, and KIS was running. Then, it came back later! Obviously it's some dynamic adware or tracking garbage they put on their webpages. Right now it's happening with everything disabled. Maybe if you repeatedly clear you cache and go back to the page it may show up. Are you on XP SP3?

This is what M$ says about it, and as always it's of no help and their so called work-arounds don't work.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927917

[weegillis]

The IE experience has been one helluva ride. The saddest part of which was the requisite number of third party solutions and system tweaks that we needed to secure our boxes. This did nothing to add to or enhance the OOB experience.

Today, I think little has changed. If we have third party software interacting with IE, we no longer experience IE OOB. To truly experience MS products, we must needs be keep our machines MS. Sad, but true.

[deepsand]

A little perspective is here called for.

From Dirty Dozen Vulnerable Apps (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/210797/google_chrome_tops_dirty_dozen_vulnerable_apps_lis t.html):

Google Chrome browser
Apple Safari browser
Microsoft Office
Adobe Acrobat
Mozilla Firefox
Sun JDK
Adobe Shockwave Player
Microsoft Internet Explorer
RealNetworks RealPlayer
Apple Webkit
Adobe Flash Player
Apple Quicktime & Opera Web browser (tied)

[deepsand]

Are you on XP SP3?
Yep.


This is what M$ says about it, and as always it's of no help and their so called work-arounds don't work.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927917
That KB article addresses IE7.

I'm using IE6; and, I thought that you were as well.

[Clint1]

Yep.


That KB article addresses IE7.

I'm using IE6; and, I thought that you were as well.
I am using IE6, and the article also applies to IE6.

[Clint1]

I know it's scripts causing it.

Scripting
Active Scripting
Disable o
Enable o
Prompt o

Setting that area to "Disable" is fixing the problem now, but the problem is for some unknown reason that keeps getting reset to "Enable"! The problem with that setting is webpages with dynamic content won't work. Such as a countdown clock for how long a sale is lasting. So those sites have to put in the Trusted sites Zone where Active Scripting is Enabled.

I would think on your PC that is set to Enabled, so I am most confused as to why you don't see the problem.

[Clint1]

A little perspective is here called for.

From Dirty Dozen Vulnerable Apps (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/210797/google_chrome_tops_dirty_dozen_vulnerable_apps_lis t.html):

Google Chrome browser
Apple Safari browser
Microsoft Office
Adobe Acrobat
Mozilla Firefox
Sun JDK
Adobe Shockwave Player
Microsoft Internet Explorer
RealNetworks RealPlayer
Apple Webkit
Adobe Flash Player
Apple Quicktime & Opera Web browser (tied)


Wow, hilarious. I find it hard to believe IE is so far down the list, you know, with all the IE-bashers out there complaining about how "insecure" it is. :rolleyes: When in fact, it is the most secure of all the browsers.

[deepsand]

I know it's scripts causing it.

Scripting
Active Scripting
Disable o
Enable o
Prompt o

Setting that area to "Disable" is fixing the problem now, but the problem is for some unknown reason that keeps getting reset to "Enable"! The problem with that setting is webpages with dynamic content won't work. Such as a countdown clock for how long a sale is lasting. So those sites have to put in the Trusted sites Zone where Active Scripting is Enabled.

I would think on your PC that is set to Enabled, so I am most confused as to why you don't see the problem.
Yep; Enabled.

The cited KB article mentions an IE6 only work-around.
Workaround 2
You can turn off friendly HTTP error messages in Internet Explorer. This workaround still lets the error message appear. However, Internet Explorer does not move away from the page after the error occurs. This workaround works only for Internet Explorer 6.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. On the Advanced tab, click to clear the Show friendly HTTP error messages check box under the Browsing section, and then click OK.
3. Close the browser.

Have you tired this?

[deepsand]

Wow, hilarious. I find it hard to believe IE is so far down the list, you know, with all the IE-bashers out there complaining about how "insecure" it is. :rolleyes: When in fact, it is the most secure of all the browsers.
The alt-fanboys seem to forget that MS has been doing this for much longer than their alt-favorites.

Reminds me of the adage that "Young men know the rules; old men know the exceptions."

[Clint1]

The cited KB article mentions an IE6 only work-around.
But everywhere they say "IE7" it's also applicable to IE6.



Have you tired this?
Yeah, that's what I was talking about at the bottom of post #28. I did at least find a way to keep the webpage from going blank to that "The page cannot be displayed" generic crap, but what happens now is the pages like that just stop loading when the error shows, so the pages are not fully displayed.

Workaround 3 still seems to be holding now, but I'm having to add more and more sites to the Trusted Sites Zone. When I was trying to edit one of my websites earlier via cPanel, things were not working and that was because it needed Active Scripting, so I had to add the URL to the Trusted Sites. Now I have to find out how to backup that list for whenever I reformat/new HD. I know it's in the Registry but I'm going to have to search the whole thing to find out where and how many places. Why the hell don't they have a simple button for "Export list" in all those Zone areas. :twisted: :confused:

[deepsand]

The Reg. Hive does not contain separate lists of the domains in each Zone, but rather a single list of all domains explicitly assigned to a Zone, with each bearing an entry containing its Zone number.

Depending on whether the policy for a given domain was effected as a Group Policy or an individual User setting, the domain will be listed in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Win dows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains or HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Internet Setting\ZoneMap\Domains, respectively.

For each domain there listed, there is a DWORD entry named * with its value set to the Zone number, with the Trusted Zone being 2.

Thus, while you can easily back-up the ZoneMap for all Zones, there is no easy way to select for a given Zone.

[Clint1]

For each domain there listed, there is a DWORD entry named * with its value set to the Zone number, with the Trusted Zone being 2.

What's confusing is I have these in two areas, (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Internet Setting\ZoneMap\Domains) and the other is:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-854245398-879983540-682003330-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\
So I don't know if one or both have to be saved.


Thus, while you can easily back-up the ZoneMap for all Zones, there is no easy way to select for a given Zone.
Yeah in the past I've just exported that whole key(s?), it would be nice if they had "Export" and "Import" buttons.

Thanks.

[deepsand]

What's confusing is I have these in two areas, (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Internet Setting\ZoneMap\Domains) and the other is:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-854245398-879983540-682003330-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\
So I don't know if one or both have to be saved.
If you've one and only one User account established, they're one and the same.

If multiple Users, HKEY_CURRENT_USER is a replica of the HKEY_USERS key of the User account that you are currently logged in under.

[deepsand]

If you've one and only one User account established, they're one and the same.

If multiple Users, HKEY_CURRENT_USER is a replica of the HKEY_USERS key of the User account that you are currently logged in under.
ADDENDUM: As HKEY_CURRENT_USER is transient and User dependent, you should backup the appropriate HKEY_USERS key after any Zone changes are made.

I'm not sure as to whether HKEY_USERS is updated in real time, or is replicated from HKEY_CURRENT_USER on a deferred basis. Safest way would be to log-out of current user, and then back up the appropriate HKEY_USERS key from an Admin. account.

[Clint1]

I only have one account that I use. There's the full regular default admin account then my user admin account.

[deepsand]

If the default Admin. acct. is active, then you should have 2 HKEY_USERS keys, S-1-5-21-854245398-879983540-682003330-1003 and another differing only in the terminal digits.